SAQA

All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.

SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY

REGISTERED QUALIFICATION:

Occupational Certificate: Production Operator

SAQA QUAL ID	QUALIFICATION TITLE
120037	Occupational Certificate: Production Operator
ORIGINATOR
Development Quality Partner - MERSETA
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY			NQF SUB-FRAMEWORK
-			OQSF - Occupational Qualifications Sub-framework
QUALIFICATION TYPE	FIELD		SUBFIELD
Occupational Certificate	Field 06 - Manufacturing, Engineering and Technology		Manufacturing and Assembly
ABET BAND	MINIMUM CREDITS	PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL	NQF LEVEL	QUAL CLASS
Undefined	122	Not Applicable	NQF Level 03	Regular-ELOAC
REGISTRATION STATUS		SAQA DECISION NUMBER	REGISTRATION START DATE	REGISTRATION END DATE
Registered		EXCO 0522/24	2022-11-22	2025-12-31
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT		LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2026-12-31		2029-12-31

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.

This qualification does not replace any other qualification and is not replaced by any other qualification.

PURPOSE AND RATIONALE OF THE QUALIFICATION

Purpose:
The purpose of this qualification is to prepare a learner to operate as a Production Operator.

A Production Operator carries out the activities to set up, operate, monitor and control production process plant machines and equipment, competently and safely; operation may be for a single unit, or a group of units which form a part of the manufacturing or production process; and may include marking off from engineering drawings; and/ or assembly of products and/ or components; and/ or first-line maintenance, not performed by artisans, as applicable; for production operations in the manufacturing, mining and minerals, food and beverage, chemical and energy and water sectors, as applicable.

The qualifying learner will know the functioning and operating requirements for the applicable machines and equipment to achieve production targets, including health, safety and the environmental requirements and will be able to operate the plant productively.

A qualified learner will be able to:

operate, monitor and control production machines and equipment; and

work safely.

Rationale:
Manufacturing and production are key components of the Southern African economy.

The benefits of sustained production, increased generation of revenue for the economy, greater investment in South Africa by overseas investors and sustainable employment opportunities impact on the production, manufacturing, mining and minerals, chemical, energy and water and food and beverage sectors; and in the wider economy.

The qualification reflects the needs of the manufacturing and production sectors, as represented by employers, employees, and training providers, for learners to develop the skills and competencies to become Production Operators.

Production Operators are found in across a wide range of industries in the production and manufacturing sectors. The qualification has been developed in a generic format and the curriculum will be contextualised in the production, manufacturing, mining and minerals, chemical, energy and water and food and beverage production sectors, as applicable. As the skills and competencies have been specified generically, this qualification will be portable across a wide range of operations.

This qualification will train and develop the qualifying learner with the knowledge, skills and experience necessary to ensure production machines and equipment are operated productively and safely; which will improve the standard of training and assessment leading to more productive operations and improved safety; and will improve mobility of employment; most learners entering this qualification will already be employed.

This is an entry level qualification and learners will qualify as Production Operators in a variety of contexts.

The typical learning pathway would be Manufacturing Production Plant Operator at NQF Level 3, followed by the Occupational Certificate: Manufacturing Production Process Controller at NQF Level 4.

Thereafter, progression would be to Occupational Certificate: Production Supervisor, at NQF Level 5.

LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

Gain Access Through RPL
Learners will gain access to the qualification through RPL for Access as provided for in the QCTO RPL Policy. RPL for access is conducted by accredited an education institution, skills development or workplace accredited provider to offer that specific qualification/part qualification.

Exemption from Modules Through RPL
Learners who have acquired competencies of the modules of a qualification or part qualification will be credited for modules through RPL.

RPL for access to the external summative assessment
RPL for access to the external integrated summative assessment: Accredited providers and approved workplaces must apply the internal assessment criteria specified in the related curriculum document to establish and confirm prior learning. Accredited providers and workplaces must confirm prior learning by issuing a statement of result.

Entry Requirements:
NQF Level 1 qualification with Communication and Mathematical Literacy.

RECOGNISE PREVIOUS LEARNING?

QUALIFICATION RULES

This qualification is made up of the following compulsory Knowledge, Practical Skills and Work Experience Modules:

Knowledge Modules
712101-001-00-KM-01, Workplace Fundamentals, Level 2, 8 Credits.
712101-001-00-KM-02, Production/Processing, Level 2, 16 Credits.

Total number of credits for Knowledge Modules: 24

Practical Skill Modules
712101-001-00-PM-01, Work safely, Level 2, 4 Credits.
712101-001-00-PM-02, Set Up, Operate, Monitor, and Control Production Plant Machines and Equipment, Level 3, 28 Credits.

Total number of credits for Practical Skill Modules: 32

Work Experience Modules
712101-001-00-WM-01, Production Plant Operations, Level 3, 66 Credits.

Total number of credits for Work Experience Modules: 66

EXIT LEVEL OUTCOMES

1. Operate, monitor and control manufacturing production plant, equipment and machinery by applying and exercising policies, procedures, performance requirements, controls and operating standards.
2. Perform work safely.

ASSOCIATED ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1:

Follow procedures and sequence of operations.

Operate the plant, machines, associated equipment and accessories.

Identify and report defects, damages or deviations and take remedial action.

Identify and report changes in environment or conditions and take remedial action.

Meet production requirements.

Compile and complete reports in accordance with operating requirements.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2:

Use handheld fire-fighting equipment correctly.

Conduct and complete an emergency drill.

Apply and exercise. health, safety, environmental processes and procedures.

Integrated Assessment:
Integrated Formative Assessment
The skills development provider will use the curriculum to guide them on the stipulated internal assessment criteria and weighting. They will also apply the scope of practical skills and applied knowledge as stipulated by the internal assessment criteria. This formative assessment together with work experience leads to entrance in the integrated external summative assessment.

Integrated Summative Assessment
An external integrated summative assessment, conducted through the relevant QCTO Assessment Quality Partner is required for the issuing of this qualification. The external integrated summative assessment for the qualification will be conducted by means of a written exam in decentralised assessment centres and the evaluation of on-the-job performance in the workplace within 1 day.

INTERNATIONAL COMPARABILITY

Manufacturing production operations exist worldwide. The United Kingdom and New Zealand were selected for comparison.

United Kingdom
City and Guilds offer two programmes in Performing Manufacturing Operations with a total development time of 850 hours, equivalent to 85 credits.

Modules include complying with statutory regulations and organisational safety requirements; moving materials within manufacturing operations; carrying out operations; making products; carrying out inspections and testing activities.

All the above skills and competencies are included in the qualification.

New Zealand:
New Zealand Certificate in Manufacturing (Level 3), 60 credits: The purpose of this qualification is to provide the manufacturing sector with people who have the knowledge and skills to work as an operator in a manufacturing plant, under limited supervision. Qualified learners will be able to apply an understanding of workplace health and safety requirements to contribute to a safe working environment; maintain and control a manufacturing process to ensure product quality; carry out operational tasks within a manufacturing process to meet organisational and customer requirements and work within a productivity improvement plan to provide value for customers.
All the above skills and competencies are included in the qualification.

Conclusion
The content and level of the two qualifications referenced compares well with this qualification and the conclusion is that the curriculum is comparable to international practices.

ARTICULATION OPTIONS

This qualification allows possibilities for both horizontal and vertical articulation.

Horizontal Articulation:

Occupational Certificate: Glass Melt Operator, NQF Level 3.

Occupational Certificate: Production Process Machine Operator and Assembler, NQF Level 3.

Vertical Articulation:

Occupational Certificate: Manufacturing Production Process Controller, NQF Level 4.

MODERATION OPTIONS

N/A

CRITERIA FOR THE REGISTRATION OF ASSESSORS

N/A

NOTES

Qualifying for External Assessment:
To qualify for an external assessment, learners must provide proof of completion of all required modules by means of a statement of results and statement of work experience as well as proof of successful completion of the following subjects and modules or alternative programmes where applicable.

Additional Legal or Physical Entry Requirements:
Physical requirements: Meet legal, health and medical requirements.
Legal requirements: Meet all organisation and legal requirements to enter the training programme.

Criteria for the Accreditation of Providers:
Accreditation of providers will be done against the criteria as reflected in the relevant curriculum on the QCTO website.

The curriculum title and code are: Occupational Certificate: Production Operator, 712101-001-00-00

Encompassed Trades:
This is not a trade qualification.

Assessment Quality Partner:
Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Services Sector Education Training Authority (merSETA).

LEARNING PROGRAMMES RECORDED AGAINST THIS QUALIFICATION:

NONE

PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS QUALIFICATION:

This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.

NONE